CAPTAIN VERNON SMITH (Blimp Pilot), deceased. &nbsp; Signed cover honoring the christening of the U.S.S. Akron (Blimp) in Akron , Ohio on August 8, 1931 (cover is postmarked August 8, 1931). The cover has been signed by Capt. Vernon J. Smith. Smith was a Navy Pilot who flew Blimps for both the Navy and for Goodyear. &nbsp; When Smith retired in 1962 he had 41,000 hours of flight time in blimps. Smith joined Goodyear&#8217;s school of engineering in Akron , Ohio in 1924 as part of Goodyear&#8217;